IGN

• PS2
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

The race driver wannabe in me is very happy to give this one a "Thumbs Up." It's not a full blown sim, but definitely more than typical arcade fare, this one should appeal to those who, like me, have been disappointed in recent F1 titles. It's unquestionably the best F1 console game on the PlayStation 2. In fact, I'll go one step further: It's the best F1 console game ever.

• PS2
• XBOX
• PC
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

The bottom line here is that Total Immersion starts with a decent graphics engine, great sounds, and some fantastic track designs, and then spices it up with a few new innovative features, but then fails so badly in its actual execution that the driver is left saying "Man, if only¿" I think Razorworks should go back to the drawing board and address their problems in execution, because their concepts are intriguing and the presentation of the package is great. Multiplayer is a MUST for any future follow-up. But until they address these issues, this game is strictly for a driver who wants something less than a full-blown sim , and doesn't mind banging doors a lot. The graphics and sound are excellent, and the real sport should have nothing to be ashamed of with this title.

• PC
• 6.9 / 10
• États-Unis

In brief, I'd expect a lot more for thirty bucks. While the Heroes of Might and Magic model is undoubtedly engaging and a very welcome change of pace, more has to be done with the title in order to convince me to buy a second expansion. As it is, the core game and the first expansion offer more than enough gameplay to make this extra expansion somewhat redundant. Three new creatures, largely unused, plus five new campaigns hardly makes for a compelling second expansion. This is the same amount of stuff we were offered with The Gathering Storm and at least that came with the much-needed multiplayer update. Tragically short of some fundamental or at least far-reaching updates, this title will only be of any real interest to the hardest of hardcore Heroes fans -- but then, those are the kind of players who would buy it anyway without any regard for review scores.

• XBOX
• 5.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Jurassic Park could be a real hoot for serious dinosaur enthusiasts but not necessarily for fans of the movies or "tycoon" game fans. I don't fall into any of those categories so I can honestly say that JP is good but not great and not really bad. As good as the control system is on Xbox, games like this just aren't as appealing on console. I wouldn't ask for more action because that's not what the game is about, but as it is, it doesn't do the genre well enough to be considered a must-have on Xbox.

• XBOX
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 2.2 / 10
• États-Unis

How bad and disappointing is Batman? It makes me realize I underrated Sneakers. The fact that it's got some better things in the GameCube version in terms of graphics and sound is a sign that the Xbox version was just a poor port of an already poor game. The controls and camera work against you at almost all times and, frankly, its just not any fun whatsoever. I love Batman, have since I was a little kid. And Dark Tomorrow promised to do the character right. From a story standpoint, it did. But the game itself makes me long for the days when Batman was best known for being a comical crimefighter on TV and no one would dare think of making him part of a video game. This game is a crime against comic book licenses. Flawed from top to bottom, from beginning to end, the only true redeeming quality of Batman: Dark Tomorrow is that any poor sap who bought this game can probably still get $25 trade-in at their local game store. Not worth a buy, not worth a rental, not even worth the free mini-comic inside. This is a great example of "what not to do."

• PC
• 8.6 / 10
• États-Unis

Simply put, this a fine tactical shooter that belongs, not just on the shelf of fans of the genre, but actually on their hard drive. It's smart, unforgiving and genuinely exhilarating. My enjoyment of this series has always rested more on the concepts than the graphics. So it stands to reason that, now that the graphics are equivalent to most other titles in the action genre, I'd enjoy this one best of all. To some extent that's true. While I think the overall approach works here, I'm forced to admit that the changes made to the game are merely iterative rather than innovative. As such, and even with the welcome new features, this game didn't hold any surprises for me. As that was a big part of the original Rainbow Six's appeal, it makes sense to emphasize continuity over change. And any good publisher isn't going to run the risk of breaking a franchise like this. Still, with the new developer, I expected a few more surprises. In the end, I'm left with a damn fine game but one that never does anything I didn't expect from it. That sense of discovery was a big part of Ghost Recon, for instance. That's the real deciding factor. If you like the series (and you should, assuming you enjoy intelligent games that don't skimp on the action), then you'll like Raven Shield; you just won't find much that's really new about it. Even so, having a chance to relive the excitement of Rainbow Six is a much prettier, more convenient setting is more than enough recommendation for me.

• NGC
• 10 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 7.1 / 10
• États-Unis

• GBA
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

SlugFest on the Game Boy Advance isn't nearly as bad as Midway's attempts at the Blitz series on the handheld, but there have been so many corners cut in features that this baseball title just isn't very fun to play. The developer worked to get the looks and sounds of the console version on the GBA, but they didn't capture the gameplay. Even though the intention is to present a more action-packed, over-the-top baseball game, the team just didn't succeed. SlugFest 2004 can't compete with the other portable baseball games, both past and present.

• XBOX
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Tao Feng will make you scream and curse at times, but it's a great fighter. As much as the Quest Mode drove me nuts, I didn't want to stop playing it. The blocking and the camera issues are the only real problems with the game. I can deal with the framerate drops, but man, don't screw me over with the camera. And the blocking, oy... But the game is gorgeous, the Quest Mode voice overs are surprising and the story is deep, and it's fun. The grabs are devastating, the Chi attacks look cool, and the strategy involved in compelling. Definitely worth your $50.

• NGC
• PS2
• XBOX
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

As stated earlier, Slugfest will always be a better two-player experience. The single player still does not have the depth of AI to contend with some of the more sim-style titles on the market. The addition of Create-a-Team is a noble idea, but it would have needed better implementation to be a real draw. That's not to say there isn't a place for this game in your library. It's hollerin' fun if you have a group of people gathered, and can be cool solo if you stick to the Challenge Mode. If you thought about buying last year's version and held off, this one offers a lot more in terms of gameplay features. The addition of Special Pitches is especially nice, and will definitely elicit a "Damn!" the first time you see one whiz past. The Home Run Derby is also a good addition, as it extends playability and lends added challenge to the overall experience. If you already own Slugfest 20-03, rent 20-04 and see if the changes warrant a new purchase.

• NGC
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• XBOX
• PC
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Like any rookie phenom, no matter how good they play, they're still prone to making rookie mistakes. The great thing about MVP is, even with those mistakes, it's still one of the best baseball titles to hit the market and finishes a strong second to World Series. MVP's pitcher/batter interface alone makes for thrilling head-to-head play as wannabe hurlers finally need skill to throw strikes, while the Franchise mode will have you simulating games for nights-on-end as you try to find the right combination of players and salaries to bring a title to your hometown The game might not feature the depth of its competitors, and like I said, MVP's not without its faults, but in terms of pickup-and-play ease and excitement and two-player competition, it still proves to be one of your Most Valuable Purchases this season. Yogi Berra once said, "If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be." Let's just hope MVP's world is a little more perfect next time around.

• XBOX
• 9.1 / 10
• États-Unis

Blue Shift has outdone themselves. At first glance, some may think this is just a rehash of last year. But play WSB 2K3. Play it a lot. And you'll begin to see that subtle gameplay changes make this a better game then last year. If you're wondering why the score is just a notch about the one given in 2002, it's for one simple reason. World Series Baseball is an improvement over last season, but there are too many things Blue Shift didn't fix. No balls bouncing in the infield? Come on now, that's gotta be there. World Series Baseball 2K3 is the best console baseball game I've ever played. If you love baseball, there is no other choice. Buy WSB 2K3 and if you have some extra cash, think about one of the other ballgames as a backup -- something to play once in a while for giggles. But set yourself aside a serious amount of time, because WSB 2K3 will take over your life for a good long while. I only hope next year I can say the same thing about World Series Baseball 2K4.

• NGC
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 8.9 / 10
• États-Unis

One of my favorite racing games of all time has both impressed and disappointed me. On the one hand, the physics, sense of speed, handling and graphics are dazzling, top-notch effects that rocket this game to the top of the heap, in those regards. On the other hand, the sheer lack of game modes is disturbing. Couple that with the fact that you can only play through the Championship mode in the Ford Focus, and that you cannot modify your vehicle in the stages mode, and you've got a quizzically lopsided, partially finished title on your hands. Perhaps you can open something special later on in the game, but I haven't found it. So, Colin McRae Rally 3 is an outstanding achievement, and any rally fan should, without hesitation, play this game, either through direct purchase or by rental. Suit yourself. Just know that you're likely to feel a twinge of disappointment soon after you get over the visceral delights that it so readily offers.